Safety fuel cutoff for vehicles



1952 D. P. RUDISILL SAFETY FUEL CUTOFF FOR YEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1950 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 25, 1952 a. RUDISILL.

SAFETY FUEL CUTOFF FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1950 m m V W m S m A 1952 D. P. RUDISILL SAFETY FUEL CUTOFF FOR VEHICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 27, 1950 HNHM NHUAO INVENTOR 001?; P Rap/5m z ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES hATENT OFFICE SAFETY FUEL GUTOFF FOR VEHIGLES Dorus P. Rudisill, Hickory, N. 0.

Application .lluly 27, 1950, SerialNc. 176,094

Claims. 1

This invention relates to the improved safety device for motor vehicles and the like and more especially to-a device incorporated in the fuel line of said vehicle for cutting 01f the flow of fuel therethrough when the vehicle in. which the engineis mounted is-upset or overturned.

It is an object of this invention to provide a safety device adapted to be used with gasoline engines mounted in vehicles such asautomobiles, trucks and the like and said safety device comprising means disposed in the fuel line of said vehicle to cut off the flow of fueltothe engine in case the vehicle overturns to thus prevent fuel from being pumped into the engine and to help minimize the possibility of fire.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of the type described wherein the fuel line will be provided with at least one enlarged portion therein having a weight member slidably disposed within the enlarged portion and being so constructed that under normal operating conditions fluid will flow through the enlarged portion around or through said weight member and the weig t member being movable so that if the vehicle is overturned or moved to an abnormal position, the weight member will be caused to jam in the orifice between said enlarged portion and the fuel line to shut off the flow of fuel therethrough.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device of the type described wherein a fuel line has a plurality of oil-set or angularly disposed portions therein and each of said ofif-set portions is provided with an enlarged chamber communicating at each end with said fuel line having a restricted orifice therein communicating with the fuel line, and each of said chambers having a hollow weight member slidably mounted therein, and normally disposed away from the orifice in said chamber, through said chamber and about said weight member and out through said orifice, and said weight member being movable by gravity upon the vehicle being upset or overturned and the disposition of the angularly disposed oii-set portions being changed, whereby the weight member will slide in said chamber to close said orifice and to cut off the flOW of fuel therethrough.

some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the .description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in .which Figure :1 :is a schematic elevation illustrating the manner in which the safety device may .be connected in the fuel line of a vehicle;

whereby fuel may normally flow Figure 2' is a verticalsectional view taken through the safety device and showing the off-set portions of the fuel line and the chambers h sa ty device shown in Figure 4- .and taken substantially along the line 'l] in Figure .5 but showing both members in assembled position;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of still another modified form of the safety device formed-from a pair of members joined together;

F-igure'9 is a vertical-sectional view'talien along the. line 99 in Figure 8 and showing one pf, said members but omitting the gasket;

Figure 10 is a vertical-sectional view 1311 along the line ill-4 ii in Figure 8 and showingathe other of said members with weight members dis.- posed therein but omitting the gasket;

Figure 11 is an isometric view of one of the modified Weight members removed from the safety device;

figure 12 is a side elevation of still anotl' ti' modified. form of the invention. formed from a; single piece of material, the fuel line,v chambers and weight members being shown in dotted lines; Referring morespecihcally to the drawings, the

numeral iii broadly designates a gasoline engine with which this device is adapted to be used, the

engine ii] being suitably mounted in avehicle such as an automobile or truclgandthe-schematic illustration in Figure 1 being for purposes {of i1.- lustra-tion only, it being understood that the sub.- ject of this invention may be used with any type of fluid burning or combustion ,engine and' m'ay' be disposed in any suitable position in the fuel line. A fuel tank H is shown provided with afuel line [2 extending therefrom to suitable fuel pump I33 and .a fuel line 14 extends from the pump 13 to one side of a safety dev-ice ZOanda fuel line I5 extends from the other side of-the safety device 20 to a suitable carburetor 1-6 connected to the engine 0 so that fuel may flow from the tank II through the pipe I2, the pump I3, the pipe I4, the safety device 2|], the fuel line I5 and the carburetor I6 into the cylinder of the engine II] to be utilized for operation of the engine in a conventional manner.

The improved safety device is broadly designated at 20 and may be disposed in any suitable position in communication with the fuel line I2, I4 or |5 and is preferably disposed in a vertical position between the lines I4 and I5 between the fuel pump I3 and the carburetor I6.

Th safety device 20 may be formed in any suitable manner as by providing the fuel line I4, I5 with one or more oif-set or angularly disposed portions, three of such portions being shown in Figure 2 for purposes of illustration. Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that the fuel line I4 communicates with a line secured thereto and extending at an angle to form an off-set portion 2| which communicates at its other end with a line forming an ofi-set portion 22, preferably disposed perpendicular to the line I4, and communicating with a line forming a third off-set portion 23 extending at an angle to the line I4 and communicating with a line forming a vertically extending portion 24 connected to and communicating with the line I5.

Each of the portions 2|, 23 and 24 is provided with an enlarged chamber 25, each of the chambers 25 being identical and bearing the same reference characters. Each chamber 25 is formed in any suitable manner as by a pipe of slightly larger diameter than the fuel lines forming the off-set portions 2|, 22, 23 and 24 and each end of the chambers 25 communicates with the respective lines forming the off-set portions 2|, 23, and 24 and one end of the chamber 25 has a base portion 26 at one end thereof at its junction with the respective lines 2|, 23 and 24 and the other end of the chamber 25 is provided with a restricted substantially conical portion 21 merging with the respective fuel lines 2|, 23 or 24 to form an outlet orifice 28, there also being an inlet orifice 29 adjacent the base portion 26 to permit fuel to flow through the line I4, the orifice 29, the chamber 25, and the orifice 28 in each of the off-set portions 2|, 23 and 24 and through the line I5.

A weight or weight member 30 is mounted for sliding movement in each of the chambers 25 and is provided with a beveled or pointed tip portion 3| adapted to seat in the restricted portion 21 to close the orifice 28 when the weight member 30 is moved into position within the restricted portion 21 of the chamber 25. The weight member 30 may be of any desired construction and is preferably cylindrical in shape and is hollow and is provided with a plurality of openings 32 so that fuel flowing through the chambers 25 may flow through the hollow weight member 30 and out through the openings 32 to thus pass around the weight member 30 when it is disposed in the position shown in Figur 2. The weight member is also preferably provided with a base portion 33 which is normally adapted to rest on the base portion 26 at th inlet side of the chamber 25 leaving the orifice 28 unrestricted.

In normal operation of the vehicle with fuel flowing through the safety device 20, the weight members 30 will be disposed within the chambers 25 substantially as shown in Figure 2 with the bases 33 thereof resting on the bases 26 of the respective chambers 25. Now if the vehicle in which the engine I0 is contained should turn over to one side or the other or over on its nose one or more of the weight members will be caused to shde, by gravity, from the position shown in Figure 2 to a point where the pointed tip portion 3| thereof will jam in the outlet orifice 28 and seal the orifice 28 against the flow of fuel therethrough. This would cut oil the fiow of fuel to the carburetor I6 which will cause the engine to cease operation thus minimizing damage to the engine and minimizing the danger of fire caused by fuel overflowing. Upon the vehicle being restored. to normal position, the weight member or members 3i] will automatically slide, by gravity, back to the position shown in Figure 2 so that fuel may again flow therethrough and therearound and through chambers 25 and the outlet orifice 28 to the line I5 and carburetor I6.

It has been noted that the lines I4 and I5 are preferably vertically disposed and that the portions 2| and 23 extend in angular relation thereto. It has been found that for best operation the portions 2| and 23 should extend at an angle of approximately 25 to 30 degrees from the horizontal. The portions 2| and 23 should extend at an angle sufiicient to prevent accidental movement of the weight members 3|! but small enough to insure positive operation upon the vehicle being upset or overturned. The vertical portion 24 is provided to insure positive operation of the device in the event the vehicle is turned over degrees. It is obvious that only one chamber 25 may be utilized with effective results but a plurality of chambers 25 are preferably provided for maximum effectiveness under all conditions. If desired, the off-set portions may zig-zag rather than extend as illustrated.

Second form Referring to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, there will be observed a modified form of a safety device broadly designated at 40 and adapted to be used in a manner identical to that of the device 20 heretofore described and connected in the fuel line of a vehicle as described for the device 20. The safety device 40 is preferably formed from two mating members 4| and 42 formed, as by casting, of any suitable material such as iron, steel, aluminum and the like.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, it will be observed that the cast members 4| and 42 are provided with identical but opposite hand, substantially semi-circular cavities which form fuel passageways and chambers when the cast members 4| and 42 are secured together and these cavities will bear the same reference characters with the cavities in the cast member 4| bearing the prime notation.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the member 42 is substantially triangular in shape and has a semi-circular cavity or passageway 43 therein communicating with a, threaded cavity 45 and the semi-circular passageway extends at an angle from the bore 45 and communicates with a semi-circular cavity 48 which extends at an angle thereto and perpendicular to the cavity 45 and communicates with a semicircular cavity 47 extending at an angle thereto which communicates with a semi-circular cavity 48 which preferably extends in a vertical plane when the device 40 is secured in the fuel line of a vehicle.

A plurality of enlarged chambers 50 are provided in the portions 43, 41 and 48, the chambers 50 being substantially semi-circular and communicating at each end with the respective cavities 43, 41 and 28 and serving to form one-half of a chamber adapted .to receive a hollow weight member 5| similar to the weight members 30 in the first form of the invention, the chamber 56 mating with a similar chamber in the cast por tion 4! to form a chamber of similar construction to the chamber in the device 20.

Each of the chambers 59 is restricted to form an orifice 52, and the weight member 5| is provided with a pointed tip 53 which is adapted to seat in the restrictedorifice 52 when the safety device ii] is moved from normal position, in a manner like that previously described for the device 20.

The member ti is adapted to be secured to the member t2 by any suitable means such as bolts'55 and a gasket 56 is disposed between the members 41 and 62 to provide an 'eifective'seal. The member is provided with a semi-circular cavity 43' which is adapted to mate with the cavity 53 in the member 52 and the cavity 43' extends at an angle and then reversely back as at 46 and then again reversely back as at t? and then vertically as at 48' and the cavities 43', M and 33 are provided with enlarged chambers 50, the chambers 56 as well as the cavities 13', ill and t8 being adapted to coincide with the chambers at, the cavities 43, d5, 41 and 48 to form a cylindrical tube or fuel line within the members ll and 42 when the members are secured together as may be observed in Figure 4. Each of the chambers 50 and 50' is provided with a suitable seat 55, 54 upon which the weight members 5! are adapted to seat when the device do is in normal position.

The weight members 5! may be of the same construction as the Weight members shown in Figures 2 and 3 or may be of any suitable construction to permit fluid to flow therethrough or therearound in normal operation and also being so constructed as to slide, by-gravity, within the chambers 5!), ss' upon upsetting of the device to cause the tip portion 53 thereof to shut off the orifice 52, 52 and to shut off flow of fuel flowing through the device. A suitable coupling 51 is secured in the threaded bore 45, E5 and this coupling 51'is secured to a coupling 53 connected to the fuel line i l to thus permit fuel to flow through the safety device Gil in a manner similar to the manner heretofore described for the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be observed that the member 42 is slightly different from the member ll in that a fuel outlet is provided as at St at the uppermost portion of the chamber 53, 55' in the cavities i8, 58, the outlet extending at right angles to the chamber 5B, 50' and being provided with a suitable coupling 6! connected to a coupling '62 connected to the fuel line [5 leading through the carburetor it to the engine It.

Third form Referring now to Figures 8, 9, l0 and 11, there will be observed still another form of this invention adapted to be connected in a fuel line such as the fuel line i l, [5 shown in Figure l and to operate upon the same principle as the original form of the invention, the structure being slightly diiferent.

This form of the invention is broadly designated at 76 and is formed from a pair of members H and l2 formed from any suitable material such as metal, as by casting and which are suitably secured together as by bolts T3 and have a gasket 15 disposed therebetween. The members H vand -72 are provided with cavities therein preferably semi-circular in shape and which are identical but opposite hand and coincide with each-other when the members ll and 12 are secured together as illustrated-in'Figure 8 and these mating cavities form bores or passageways-in the device 1!] and for purposes of illustration :the cavities will bear the samereference-characters with thecavities in the member H bearing the prime notation. It will thus be observed that one-half of 'a threaded |bore it is provided in the bottomof the member adapted to receive a coupling 1'! connected to a coupling lt-secured to a fuel pipe such as the fuel pipe 14. A-cavity extends at an angle from the threaded "bore i6 and is restricted as at 8| and communicates with another enlarged cavity 82-Whichisrestricted as at 83, the cavities 8'2 andSSeXtending at an angle to the'cavities wand-Bl andthe upper end of the cavity 83 (Figure 9) communicates with an enlarged cavity35 having arestricterlpol'tlon'fifi communicating with a threaded cavity "83 adapted to receive a coupling '88 connected to a coupling '89 for securing the same to a fuel pipe such as a fuel pipe l5 leading to a carbureter.

The 'member 12 hasmating cavities "it", "85', 8!, 82', 33, 85', 86',-and 87" identical to the cavities in the member H and the cavities pro vide a'passageway through the device"). It will thus be seen that fuel may flow throug'hthepip'e M through said passageways and out'throughithe couplings 88 and 89 and through the pipe is to the carbureter H5.

Now, hollowweight members 1' 3!) are provided which may -be of similar construction to the weight members 39 and 51 but which inthisiform of this invention are preferably of a slightly .different construction and have a cylindrical portion illl and a tapered portion IE2. The cylindrical portion is! of the weight member N39 has a bore [3 extending partially thereinto and a plurality of smaller bores I 85 penetrate the cylindrical surface of the portion if)! and communicate with the bore [93.

The chambers 86, 82 and 85 are each provided with a weight member me and the weight members H353 normally are disposed in the chambers 80, 82 and 85 with the tapered portions 5&2 thereof partially penetrating the respective restricted passageways iii, 83 and 86 so that fuel flowing through the device will flow through the bores I03 and 35 and around the members lilil. Now when the vehicle with which the device 10 is associated is upset or overturned, the angular disposition of the chambers 80, 82 and 85 cause one or more of the weight members I69 to slide, by gravity, so that the tapered portion H32 jams in the restricted passageway BI, 82 or 85 and prevents fuel from flowing therethrough.

The members ll and 12 are shown as being irregular in shape to conform to the angularity of the passageways therethrough but if desired, the members H and 12 may be of any desired shape.

Fourth form tion to the portion Ill and having apportion H3.

extending vertically in line with the fuel line. The member HE! has a bore iZl therein which :is sealed by a plug HI and the other end of the bore I20 communicates with a restricted bore I22 which communicates with one end of a bore I23, the bores I22 and I23 extending to the lefthand side of the member H and being closed by a suitable plug I25. The bore I23 extends in the portion H2 in angular relation to the bores I20 and I22 and communicates with a restricted bore I26 which communicates at its other end with a bore I21 communicating with the exterior of the portion H3 and closed by a plug I28, the bore I21 communicating at its other end with a restricted bore I30 communicating with a threaded bore I3I adapted to receive a coupling I32 for connecting the same to a suitable coupling I33 connected to a pipe such as a pipe I extending to the carbureter.

The portion III also has a threaded bore I35 therein communicating with the bore I and the threaded bore I35 has the lower portion thereof threaded for reception of a coupling I36 adapted to be connected to a coupling I31 connected to a pipe such as the fuel line I4 to thus permit fuel to flow through the pipe I4, the bores I35, I20, I22, I23, I26, and I30 and out the upper end of the member IIO into pipe I5 through the couplings I32 and I33. The plugs I2I, I and I28 are provided to seal the respective bores I20, I23 and I2! after they are drilled in the member III) and also provided to permit access to the interior of the device.

Suitable weight members I05 of identical or similar construction to the weight members I03 are disposed within the bores I20, I23 and I2! respectively, and normally seat at the base of the bores and are adapted to be slidably moved by gravity so that the tapered portion thereof will jam in the bores I22, I26 and I upon the device IIi] being moved out of its normal position to thus cut off the flow of fuel therethrough in a manner identical to that in which the fuel is cut off in the forms of the invention previously described.

It should be noted that in all forms of this invention when the vehicle is upset or overturned and the Weight member has its end seated in the restricted orifice to cut off the flow of fuel, fuel pressure on the Weight member will act to hold it in position to provide an effective seal until the vehicle is again placed in an upright position.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a prefered embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, means disposed within the line adapted to out off the supply of fuel to said engine upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, comprising a plurality of enlarged chambers disposed in series within said fuel line and communicating with the fuel line and disposed at angles to each other, each of said chambers having a seat at one end thereof, and a tapering orifice at the other end thereof, a hollow member slidably mounted within each, of said chambers and having a tapered imperforate end and adapted to normally rest on said seat, said hollow members having openings therein to permit fuel to flow therethrough and thereabout, whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, at least one of the hollow members disposed within said chambers will move by gravity so that the tapered end thereof will jam in the orifice in said chamber to prevent the flow of fuel therethrough.

2. In a vehicle having an engine and a fuel reservoir, and a fuel line leading from said fuel reservoir to said engine, and said line having at least a portion thereof extending vertically, a safety device disposed in the vertically extending portion of said fuel line and comprising a plurality of chambers disposed in series in said fuel line and extending in off-set relation to each other, said chambers each having a base intake portion and a restricted outlet portion, a weight member slidably mounted within each of said chambers and normally resting on said base portion, said weight members being so constructed as to permit fuel to by-pass the same when the weight members are resting on the bases of said chambers and said weight members each being provided with an imperforate tip, whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned at least one of the weight members will slide by gravity within its chamber so that the tip portion there of will seat in the restricted portion of said chamber to prevent the flow of fuel therethrough.

3. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, means disposed with the line adapted to cut off the supply of fuel to said engine upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, comprising a plurality of enlarged chambers within said fuel line and disposed in series in said fuel line and also disposed in angular relation to each other, said chambers communicating at each end with the fuel line and each having a seat at one end thereof and a tapering orifice at the other end thereof, a member slidably disposed within each of said chambers and adapted to normally rest on said seat, said member having an imperforate end whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, the member disposed within at least one of said chambers will be caused to move by gravity so that the imperforate end thereof will jam in the orifice in said chamber to prevent the flow of fuel therethrough, said chambers being disposed in angular relation to each other to insure operation of the member in at least one of said chambers upon the vehicle being upset in any direction.

4. In a vehicle having an engine and a fuel reservoir, and a fuel line leading from said fuel reservoir to said engine, and said line having at least a portion thereof extending vertically, a safety device disposed in the vertically extending portion of said fuel line and comprising a plurality of chambers communicating at each end with said fuel line and extending in angular relation to each other, said chambers being disposed in series in said fuel line, said chambers each having a base intake portion at one end joined to the fuel line and a restricted outlet portion at its other end adjacent the fuel line, a weight member slidably mounted Within each of said chambers and normally resting on said base portion, each of said weight members being so constructed as to permit fuel to by-pass the same when the weight members are positioned on the base portions of said chambers and each of said weight members being provided with an imperforate tip, whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned the weight member in at least one of said chambers will slide by gravity within said chamber so that the imperforate tip will jam the restricted portion of said chamber to prevent the flow of fuel therethrough and said chambers being disposed in angular relation to each other to insure operation of at least one weight member upon the vehicle being upset in any direction.

5. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, a safety device disposed within said line comprising a member having a passageway therethrough, said member being connected at each end to said fuel line to permit fuel to flow through the passageway therein, said member being provided with a plurality of enlarged chame bers in said passageways, said enlarged chambers being disposed at an. angle to each other and so positioned that fuel flowing through said member will flow successively through each of said enlarged chambers, each of said enlarged chambers having a restricted portion, a weight member normally positioned within each of said enlarged chambers to permit fuel to flow therethrough, and said weight members being slidable withinv said enlarged. chambers upon said vehicle being. upset or overturned to cause at least one of: the Weight members so slide by gravity into the restricted portion of the enlarged chamber to out off the flow of fuel through said chamher;

6 Ina vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, means fOr automatically cutting ofi the flow of fuel through said line upon said vehicle being upset or overturned comprising said line having a first portion thereof extending at an angle to. the vertical and communicating with a second portion extending in a horizontal plane, said second portion communicating with a third portion extending at an angle thereto, said third portion communicating with a fourth portion of the line extending vertically. and said first and third angularly disposed portions and said fourth vertically disposed portion each being provided with an enlarged chamber so that fuel flowing successively through said portions will successivel'y flow through said chambers, each of said chambers having a restricted orifice therein through which the fuel normally flows, each of said chambers bein provided with a slidable perforate weight member normally disposed out of engagement with said orifice and having an imperforate end adapted to seat in said orifice upon the vehicle being u set or overturned so that at least one of said perforate weight members will act to cut off the flow of fuel through the line upon the vehicle being overturned or upset in any direction.

7. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply, and a line leading from said fuel s ply to said engine,v a safety device dispo ed within the fuel line compris ng a pair of mating members, each of said members having a plurality of substantially semi-circular cavities there n, said cavities. being adapted to coincide and form passageways when. the. mating members are secured together, means for securing the mating members together, means, for connecting the fuel line to each endof said members in communication with said passageways so that fuel will flow through said device, said passageways being provided with a succession of enlarged chambers therein each having a restricted orifice, said chambers being disposed. in' angular relation to each other and to the vertical, and each of said chambers having a, weight member slidably mounted therein, each of. said" weight members being so constructed' as topermit fuel: to flow thereabout in normal operation, and each of said weight members having a tip portion, whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned one or more of said weight members will move by gravity so that the tip portion thereof will seat in the restricted orifice to out off the flow of fuel through the device.

8. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a fuel line from said fuel supply to said engine, a safety device disposed in said fuel line, said safety device comprising a pair of mating members, a gasket, means for securing said mating members together with the gasket therebetween, each of said members having coinciding communicating cavities therein forming a passageway through said device, means for securing the fuel line to said device in communication with each end of said passageway to cause fuel to flow through said device, and said device having a plurality of chambers therein disposed in said passageway, a weight member slidably disposed in each of said chambers, some of said chambers being disposed at an angle to the vertical so that said weight members will normally be positioned in the lower portion of the chambers and will not restrict the flow of fuel through the chambers and whereby, upon said vehicle being overturned or upset, at least one of said weight members will be caused to slide by gravity to the other end of its chamber and partially into said passageway to cut off the flow of fuel through said chamber and said passageway.

9. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a fuel line from said fuel supply to said engine, a safety device disposed in said fuel line, said safety device comprising a pair of mating members, a gasket, means for securing said mating members together with the gasket therebetween, each of said members having coinciding communicating cavities therein forming a passageway through said device, means for securing the fuel line to said device in communication with each end of said passageway to cause fuel to flow through said device, and said device having a plurality of chambers therein disposed in series in said passageway, a weight member slidably disposed in each of said chambers, some of said chambers being disposed at an angle to the vertical so that said weight members will normally be positioned in the lower portion of the chambers and will not restrict the flow of fuel throu h the chambers and whereby, upon said vehicle being overturned or upset, at least one of said weight members will be caused to slide by gravity to the other end of its chamber and partially into said passageway to cut off the flow of fuel through said chamber and said passageway, the angle of disposition of said chambers being great enough to prevent the weight member therein from sliding during normal operation of the vehicle and small enough to insure sliding movement of the weight member when the vehicle is upset or overturned.

10. In avehicle having an en ine, afuel reservoir and a line leading from said fuel reservoir to said engine, a safety device disposed within and communicating with said line comprising a pair of irregularly shaped members, a gasket disposed between said members, means for securing said members together, each of said members having a plurality of cavities therein, the cavities in one ofsaid members mating with the cavities inthe other of said members toform a passageway through said device when the members are seicured together, means for connecting the'fuel line" to each end of said device in communication with said passageways to cause fuel to flow through said device, and said passageways having portions extending at an angle to the vertical and at an angle to each other and each of said angularly disposed portions being provided with an enlarged portion and a restricted portion, a weight member normally disposed within each of said enlarged portions and having a tapered end whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, one or more of said weight members will slide by gravity so that the tapered end thereof will seat in the respective restricted portion of the passageway to cut off the flow of fuel therethrough.

11. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel reservoir and a line leading from said fuel reservoir to'said engine, a safety device disposed within and communicating with said line comprising a pair of irregularly shaped members, a gasket disposed between said members, means for securing said members together, each of said members having a plurality of cavities therein, the cavities in one of said members mating with the cavities in the other of said members to form a passageway through said device when the members are secured together, means for connecting the fuel line to each end of said device in communication with said passageways to cause fuel to flow through said device, and said passageways having portions extending at an angle to the vertical and at an angle to each other and each of said anguarly disposed portions bein provided with an enlarged portion and a restricted portion, a weight member normally disposed within each of said enlarged portions, each of said weight members having a cylindrical body and a tapered end, said cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending bore therein and at least one transverse bore communicating with said longitudinally ex tending bore to normally permit fuel to pass through said weight member, whereby upon said vehicle bein upset or overturned, one or more of said weight members will slide by gravity so that the tapered end thereof will seat in the respective restricted portion of the passageway to cut off the flow of fuel therethrough.

12. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, a safety device for cutting off the supply of fuel to said engine upon said vehicle being upset or overturned comprising an irregularly-shaped member having at least three portion-s, a first portion extending at an angle to the vertical and asecond portion extending at an angle to said first portion and a third portion extending vertically from said second portion, said first portion having a bore therein and extending therethrough and restricted at the end thereof adjacent said second portion, said second portion having a bore therein extending therethrough and restricted at the end thereof adjacent said third portion and said third portion having a bore therein extending therethrough and restricted at the outer end thereof, a plurality of plugs for closing one end of each of said bores, all of said bores communicating with each other and form'- ing a passageway through the irregularly shaped member, and means for connecting a fuel line to each end of said member to permit fuel to flow therethrough, each of said enlarged bores being provided with a hollow perforate weight member slidably disposed therein and having an imperforate end portion, said wei ht member being so disposed as to normally permit fuel to flow therethrough and thereabout and whereby, upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, at least one of the weight members will move by gravity so that the imperforate end portion thereof will jam in the restricted bore to prevent the flow of fuel through the safety device.

13. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, a safety device for cutting off the supply of fuel to said engine upon said vehicle being upset or overturned comprising an irregularly-shaped member having at least three portions, a first portion extending at an angle to the vertical and a second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and a third portion extending vertically from said second portion, said first portion having a bore therein and extending therethrough and restricted at the end thereof adjacent said second portion, said second portion having a bore therein extending therethrough and restricted at the end thereof adjacent said third portion and said third portion having a bore therein extending therethrough and restricted at the outer end thereof, a plurality of plugs for closing one end of each of said bores, all of said bores communicating with each other in series and forming a passageway through the irregularly shaped member, and means for connecting a fuel line to each end of said member to permit fuel to flow therethrough, each of said enlarged bores being provided with a hollow perforate weight member slidably disposed therein and having an imperforate end portion, said weight members being so disposed as to normally permit fuel to flow therethrough and thereabout whereby, upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, the weight members will move by gravity so that the imperforate end portion thereof will jam in the restricted bore to prevent the flow of fuel through the safety device, and the angle of disposition of said bores being great enough to prevent the weight member from sliding during normal operation of the vehicle and small enough to insure sliding movement of the weight member when the vehicle is upset or overturned.

14. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said engine, a safety device for cutting off the flow of fuel through line line upon said vehicle being upset or overturned comprising a member having a bore therein and extending there through, the opposed ends of said bore being threaded, coupling means secured in the opposed ends of said bore for connecting the fuel line to each end of said member to cause fuel to flow through the bore in said member, said bore having a plurality of angularly disposed chambers provided with a restricted portion communicating therewith, a weight member disposed within each of said chambers, each of said weight members being adapted to seat within the restricted portion of said chambers, and said weight members normally being so disposed within said chambers as to permit fuel to flow therethrough and being movable by gravity to seat within the restricted portion of said chamber upon the vehicle being overturned or upset to prevent the flow of fuel through said bore, said chambers being disposed in series in said passageway so the fuel will flow successively through said chambers.

15. In a vehicle having an engine, a fuel supply and a line leading from said fuel supply to said' engine, a safety device for cutting off the flow 13 of fuel through said line upon the vehicle being upset or overturned comprising a member positioned in said line, said member having a plurality of bores therein, said bores communicating with each other to form a passageway through said member, the fuel line being connected to at least two of said bores and means for closing the other of said bores to the atmosphere to permit fuel to flow through said passageway, said passageway having a plurality of chambers therein, said chambersbeing disposed at an angle to each other, each of said chambers having a restricted orifice connecting the same with said passageway, a weight member slidably positioned in each of said chambers, each of said weight members normally resting out of engagement with said restricted orifices to permit free flow of fuel through said passageways and said weight members being slidable into said restricted orifices to cut-01f the flow of fuel through said passageways, whereby upon said vehicle being upset or overturned, at least 14 one of said weight members will move by gravity to seat in the restricted orifice in its chamber to cut-ofi the flow of fluid through said passageway, said chambers being disposed in series in said passageway so the fuel will flow successively through said chambers.

DORUS P. RUDISILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

